To Loan / To BorrowThe man on the left
is BORROWING money; the one on the right is LOANING money. |
UPDATED: OCT 2022
THE PROBLEM:
Using the incorrect verb causes confusion.
These are two: to loan and to borrow.
These are two: to loan and to borrow.
- Can you loan me $20? CORRECT
- Can you borrow me $20? INCORRECT
- He loaned me his car. CORRECT
- He borrowed me his car. INCORRECT
MEANING:
- "to borrow" = you receive (you borrow from the bank.)
- "to loan" = you give (the bank loans to you)
NOTE:
- American English: You can use "to loan" or "to lend".
- FYI: Some American English language experts say you should use "to lend" and that "to loan" is only for money related usage.
- Australian, British, Canadian English tend to use "to lend"". "He lent me £20 yesterday." "Can you lend me your English grammar book?"
- Noun:
a loan - Both British and American English.
I got a bank loan yesterday. - Noun:
a lend = "I got a lend from the bank." = INCORRECT. You can't use "lend" as a noun in either American or British English; only as a verb.
to loan
EXAMPLES:
- Can you loan me $20?
- How much did the bank loan you?
- She loaned him her car and he wrecked it.
to borrow
EXAMPLES:
- Can I borrow $20?
- Mary borrowed my English grammar book, but never returned it.
- He borrowed her car and wrecked it